Safety cranking device for automobiles



E. L. MILLER.

S'AFETY CRANKING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

WITNESS:

'III

APPLICATION FJLED JAN. 7. I919.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

' INVENTOR.

7%. 5. fZZ/n m.

ATTORNEY.

a a/zirz 177/1710.

' E. L. MILLER.

SAFETY CRANKINGTEVI'CE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION mil) JAN. 7. 1919.

1,327, 109, Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

WITNESS.- INVENTOR.

' J m/n7 B 7%. 7331/4441 6 ATTORNEY.

EDWIN L. MILLER, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

SAFETY CRANKING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

Application filed. January 7, 1919. Serial No. 269,974.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN L. MILLER, a citizen, of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Safety Cranking Device for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to safety cranking devices for automobiles and particularly to a device of this character which is employed for turning the motor crank by hand.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient ratchet which may be attached to automobiles which require cranking of the motor crank by hand power to start the motor, having facility for automatically disengaging the motor crank, in the event the latter should reverse direction during the cranking practice.

I attain these objects and other advantages by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which-Figure 1, is a front elevation of the supporting member, and showing the ratchet member mounted therein, a part of my i11- vention; Fig. 2, is a rear elevation of the same, and showing the fingers for holding the ratchet device in place, a part of my invention; Fig. 3, is an edgewise view of the same, and showing the means for attaching the device to an automobile; Fig. 4, is a vertical elevation of the ratchet member; Fig. 5, is a front elevation of the split elbow for clamping on the elbow of the crank, and showing the dogs thereon for engaging the ratchet member, a part of my invention; Fig. 6, is a rear elevation of the same; Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the same applied to a crank, and showing the adjustably mounted dog for engaging and disengaging the ratchet member; Fig. 8, is a view of the inner or concaved side of one of the dogs, and showing the transverse corrugations therein for gripping the elbow member and, Fig. 9, is a front elevation of the front portion of an automobile, and showing my invention operatively applied thereto.

Similar numerals of reference refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The numeral 1, designates a portion of the front of an automobile to which my invention is operatively applied. The invention consists of a supporting plate member 2, having a central opening 8, and an outwardly extending annular flange 4, at the border of the opening, on the front side of the member, A flange 5, is formed on the reverse side of the member, at the lower edge thereof and is extended substantially half way around the plate. Elongated slotted'apertures 6, are formed in the side margin of the plate, at opposite sides thereof. The contour of the plate describes a semicircular lower half portion, theupper portion of the plate being cut away vertically and then cut away diagonally, at both sides, to adjacent the center of the plate, at the top edge thereof, the contour described being best adapted for conveniently attaching the member to the automobile front. A hollow cylindrical ratchet member 7 is revolublv mounted in the opening 3, and is provided circumferentially and adjacent its lower end with an outwardly extending flange 8, having a plurality of ratchet teeth 9, formed on its peripheral edge. The up per portion of the member, above the flange 8, is provided with a plurality of vertically extending ratchet teeth 10, having their inner sides formed concave and their outer sides formed convex. The flange 8, having the ratchet teeth 9, is arranged to slidably ear on the reverse side of the plate member 2, at the border of the opening 3, therein. Oppositely disposed outwardly extending cars 11, are demountably secured on the reverse side of the plate 2, by clamping bolts 12, which are extended loosely through the slotted apertures 6, and pierce the ears. The inner ends of the ears are recessed a suitable distance in longitudinal direction and the recesses adapted to receive the flange 8, the cut away portion forming fingers 13, which extend over and above the flange 8, and effectually detain the ratchet member in place on the plate 2. A detent 14, is pivotally mounted on the reverse side of the plate 2, and is arranged to engage the ratchet teeth 9. A spring 15, is arranged on the reverse side of the plate 2, so asto press on the heelv portion of the detent 14, to hold the latter in engagement with the ratchet teeth 9. Openings 16, are apertured in the outer portions of the ears and are adapted for receiving the upper ends of the bolts 17, which are usually present at the front of the automobile to hold the spring 18, in place. A split elbow 19, is secured on the elbow of a crank member 20, by bolts 21, at the lower end of the elbow, and 22, at the upper end of the 40 nuts on the bolts.

same. Dogs 23, having concaved inner sides provided with transverse corrugations at its rearward ends, and convexed outer sides, and provided with elongated slotted apertures 25 and with beveled end portions 26, which are adapted for engaging the ratchet teeth 10, on the ratchet member, are slidably and adj ustably mounted on opposite sides of the upper portion of the split elbow, the dogs being held in adjustment by the bolt 22 and its nut 27, which bolt is extended through the slots 25, and through the split elbow rearwardly of the elbow of the crank 20. Shoulders 28, are formed on the upper end of the split elbow and are spaced apart and adapted for loosely receiving the dogs 23. The outer sides of the upper portion of the split elbow are provided with corrugations adapted for engaging the corrugations on the inner sides of the dogs 23, so

that the adjustment of the dogs in longitudinal direction may be obtained by progressive steps.

To apply and operate my invention, the split elbow 19, is clamped on the elbow on the crank 20, as shown in Fig. 7. The dogs 23, are then advanced or withdrawn to ob- 1 tain the desired projection thereof which is best adapted to properly engage the ratchet teeth 10, on the ratchet member, whereupon the bolt 22 is tightened to press the corrugations on the dogs to grip the corrugations on the split elbow, thus securing the adjustment of the dogs. The supporting member 2, is then attached to the front of the automobile, by extending the ears 11, a distance adapted to permit the upper ends of the bolts 17, entering and extending through the openings 16, and the member held thereon by the When positioning the supporting member, the ratchet member 7, is brought to register with the end of the motor crank shaft. The crank 20, is then extended through the ratchet member to engagement with the motor crank shaft, thereby bringing the beveled ends of the dogs 23, in engagement with the vertical ratchet teeth 10, on the ratchet member. The crank 20, is then turned to the right, whereupon, the dogs 23, in engagement with ratchet teeth 10, force the ratchet member to revolve in corresponding direction, the detent 14, dropping behind the ratchet teeth 9, to detain the ratchet member, in the well known manner. If the motor crank shaft should be reversed during the cranking operation, the crank 20, would be reversed, the reverse movement would carry the dogs 23, immediately out of engagement with the ratchet member, thereby, the crank 20, would be disengaged 0 from the motor crank shaft. The pitch of the ratchet teeth 10, assuring the pressing of the dogs 23, outwardly of the ratchet member, immediately the crank is reversed, thus preventing the possibility of injury to the operator. 7

Having described my invention what 1. claim is- In a safety cranking device for automobiles, the combination with the motor crank shaft of an automobile, of a vertically extending plate provided with a central opening and with an outwardly extending annular flange at the border of the opening and substantially registering with the end of the crank shaft, a hollow cylindrical ratchet member revolubly arranged in the opening in said plate and provided circumferentially with ratchet teeth slidably bearing on the reverse side of the plate and with go ratchet teeth extending longitudinally of the ratchet member and presented at the front of said plate, outwardly extending arms adjustably mounted on opposite sides of the reverse side of said plate and pro- 5 vided at their inner ends with fingers extending over said first mentioned ratchet teeth and with bolt holes in their outer end portions, a detent rotatably mounted on the reverse side of said plate and actuated by spring tension to engage said first mentioned ratchet teeth, a crank extending through said ratchet member and adapted for engaging said crank shaft and a split elbow demountably secured on the elbow of said crank and provided with adjustable gripping dogs having beveled projecting end portions adapted for engaging said second. mentioned ratchet teeth in one direction and for disengaging the same in the opposite 101 direction.

Kansas City, Missouri, January 2nd, 1919.

EDWIN L. MILLER. Witnesses:

H. H. Torr, R. A. BEACHY. 

